Used 2020 INFINITI QX50

#4 in Best Small Luxury SUVs of 2020

The 2020 Infiniti QX50 is a 5-passenger luxury SUV that hopes to attract buyers with its racy styling, advanced engineering and sub-$40,000 starting price. Pitted against the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and a host of other compact-luxury SUVs, the QX50 stands out with a lengthy list of standard driver assists, an advanced variable-compression 4-cylinder engine and wide range of trims allowing buyers a bit more personalization choices.

From a performance perspective, the front-drive QX50 isn’t as fun to drive as the old rear-drive version of itself, but its straight-line acceleration and relatively controlled suspension easily place it in the same league as the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. The available ProPilot Assist is the closest thing yet to autonomous driving.

If you ever drove the previous-generation QX50 (better known as the previous generation EX), you will find this all-new version completely different. Whereas the old QX50, with its rear-wheel-drive architecture and powerful V6 engine, felt more like a sports sedan, Infiniti’s newest SUV is tailored more for efficiency and practicality.

Like most of its rivals, the 2020 Infiniti QX50 is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) SUV, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. This makes the QX50 feel less sporty than what we’ve come to expect from Infiniti’s smaller SUVs, but less prone to sliding on slick roads — though if you live where it snows, we’d recommend adding AWD.

For all its high-tech ability to instantly change compression ratios to suit power or efficiency needs, the new VC-Turbo 4-cylinder engine feels similar to other turbo-4 units. With 268 horsepower there’s enough juice for competent acceleration. The continuously variable transmission (CVT), on the other hand, isn’t our favorite choice. In ordinary situations you may not notice there are no set gears, but when driven aggressively the new QX50’s transmission drones.

A switch to an all-electric steering setup has produced steering feel that is lighter but number compared to a more traditional hydraulic system. One area where the QX50 does excel over its older siblings is safety and technology, primarily the ProPilot driver-assistance system, which we highlight below.

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From an efficiency standpoint, the 2020 Infiniti QX50 outshines a number of its competitors with a spacious interior and generous cargo bay. With 38.7 inches of rear-seat legroom, passengers will have plenty of room to stretch out. Fold the rear seats down and the QX50 offers up to 65.1 cubic feet of cargo-carrying capacity, again near best in class.

Aesthetically, the QX’s interior is handsome, but it lacks some of the elegance found in previous Infiniti SUVs. The dual-touch screens for infotainment and climate control can be a bit slow to respond and have an almost aftermarket look not nearly as polished or integrated as similar systems in Audi and BMW cars. On the up side, there are plenty of redundant knobs for volume, tuning, temperature and fan speed.

We’re also not big fans of the reimagined gear selector that employs a rather stubby gear selector with the P button just below it that has to be depressed to put the car in Park.

With its svelte skin, the QX50 has a similar visual pop as its siblings, the recently retired QX30 and larger, 3-row QX60. Especially distinctive are a voluptuous hood and the boomerang-like chrome treatment of the C-pillar. Up front, Infiniti’s honeycomb grille is big and proud, with the Infiniti badge seeming to float in the middle. If you want roof rails, you’ll have to step up from the base Pure model to the mid-trim Luxe or Essential trim. The same goes for the panoramic moonroof.

All 2020 QX50s come with 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Optional 20-inch rollers are available on the QX50 Sensory. At 8.6 inches, the new QX50 has good ground clearance.

PROPILOT ASSIST
By linking the car’s intelligent cruise control with its electric power steering, Infiniti’s ProPilot Assist is able to accelerate, brake and even steer the vehicle under certain situations. The driver is required to keep his hands on the wheel at all times, but in congested stop-and-go traffic, ProPilot is like having your own personal co-pilot.

PREMIUM WHITE LEATHER PACKAGE
One must remember the QX50 is a luxury SUV, which is why the White Leather Package offered on the Autograph trim is such a wonderful choice. Quilted white leather seating with contrasting side inserts and stitching are complemented by blue Ultrasuede inserts on the doors, upper dash and center console lid, and a brown Ultrasuede headliner.

Among the highlights that come with a base Infiniti QX50 Pure are a power tailgate, 8-way-power front seats, LED headlights, dual-zone climate control, and Infiniti’s Predictive Forward Collision Warning that can “see” two cars in front, along with rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitor, lane-departure warning, forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, high-beam assist, rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors.

The base infotainment system is a twin-screen setup with 6-speaker AM/FM/CD/satellite radio audio system with Bluetooth, USB inputs plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Stepping up to the Luxe trim adds a power-operated panoramic moonroof, roof rails, LED fog lights, blind-spot monitoring and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink universal garage-door opener.

Moving up the QX50 ladder brings more features but also a higher price tag. If you want a 360-degree camera, heated front seats, front parking sensors and rain-sensing wipers, you’ll want the Essential trim.

The Sensory grade brings leather seating, a Bose sound system, intelligent cruise control, a heated steering wheel, 20-inch wheels, adaptive front lighting, blind-spot and lane-departure intervention plus “ice cube” LED headlights.

The top-line Autograph brings ProPilot Assist, a head-up display, tri-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, semi-aniline leather seating and a motion-activated rear tailgate. Many, but not all, of the Autograph’s driver assists can be added to lower trims. Unique to the Autograph is the White Leather package (see favorite features).

Infiniti says its VC-Turbo 4-cylinder, at over 20 years in the making, could be “the world’s most advanced engine.” By variable compression, the automaker means this engine can change the stroke of its pistons, thereby varying compression as needed for the benefit of either power or efficiency. It’s complex technology, but thankfully everything happens behind the scenes. From a driver’s point of view, this engine feels much like any other turbo-4, with some instances of lag upon hard acceleration but good power otherwise.

Drivers most serious about fuel economy can engage an Eco mode via the drive-mode selector, but it has the uncomfortable tendency to add resistance to the accelerator pedal. Also in the name of efficiency, all models use a CVT automatic transmission that tends to drone upon aggressive acceleration. FWD is the standard setup, with AWD optional. Infiniti reps say this sophisticated engine can technically run on 87-octane gasoline, but premium grade is recommended.

The 2020 Infiniti QX50 can tow up to 3,000 pounds when optioned with AWD and the tow package.

2.0-liter variable-compression turbocharged inline-4
268 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600-4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/29 mpg (FWD), 22/28 mpg (AWD)